Keppie Careers

Social media speaker, social media consultant, job search coach

Are you 45+ with an idea about how to make a difference?

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Do you have an idea that will make a difference in your community in the areas of  education, social services, environment, health care or helping others engage in encore careers (careers that combine purpose, passion and a paycheck)? If you are at least 45 years old, take note! Civic Ventures (a think tank on boomers, work and social purpose) just announced its new Launch Pad contest, which is designed to discover five inspiring people 45 and over with ideas to improve their communities.

Each winner will receive $5,000 and resources and support from the Encore.org community to put his or her idea into action.

Jim Emerman, executive vice president of Civic Ventures, explained, “The Launch Pad is a new contest to spur people’s thinking about how they can make a difference in an encore career.  We’re looking for five people, 45 and over, with great ideas for transforming their communities.  Each will win $5,000 to get their ideas off the ground.”

He continued, “Experienced adults with the passion and know-how to make a real difference in the lives of others offer a windfall of talent in our communities. The Launch Pad is about tapping their ideas for improving education, health, environment, social services and more.”

Launch Pad contenders from around the country can submit their ideas on how they want to make a difference in their communities at http://launchpad.encore.org/ through December 20.

On January 17, 2011, Civic Ventures will name 25 Launch Pad semifinalists. From January 17 through February 14, people will be invited to vote online for the idea they’d like to see realized.

The announcement of the Launch Pad contest follows last week’s news of the 2010 Purpose Prize winners, 10 people over age 60 who are making extraordinary contributions in their encore careers. The Purpose Prize, an award of up to $100,000, is given annually to individuals who are using their experience and passion to tackle society’s biggest challenges.

For more information on the Launch Pad contest, visit http://launchpad.encore.org/.

How to access the hidden job market

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I’m fortunate to live in the Atlanta area, where there is an active and talented, social media savvy recruiter community. I’m lucky to be able to meet these recruiters “in real life,” or as my friend Phyllis Mufson says, “in 3D.” One such recruiter is Jim Stroud. Jim is well known in the field for his work as a “Searchologist” (someone adept at online research), with an expertise in the full life-cycle placement of Executive and Technical personnel, Recruitment Research and Competitive Intelligence. What does all that mean? He has a lot of ideas about how to teach job seekers about how recruiters think.

While not everyone is going to find a job via a recruiter, I think his video about how to access the hidden job market is worth every job seeker’s time. This is what he says about the video:

Did you know that traditional job searches leave you at a disadvantage? Why? Simply put, there are a lot of unadvertised jobs that you are overlooking everyday. If you do not know about these hidden jobs. its because you have been looking in the wrong places. Its time to do something different! In this video on job search strategy, Jim Stroud gives tips on how to prospect the hidden job market. Tune in now and PLEASE share with other job seekers in your network.

Jim asked me to share this, so here it is. Let me know what you think, and be sure to be in touch if you’d like help implementing Jim’s suggestions. If you are ready for a social resume that gets results (and is optimized for search), contact me!

How To Find Hidden Jobs from Jim Stroud on Vimeo.

Making a difference may help you find a job

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Over the weekend, I was honored to be invited and to attend Civic Ventures’ Purpose Prize awards gala and the day of learning that followed. Civic Ventures is “a think tank on Boomers, work and social purpose.” People over 60 who are improving their communities and the world receive Purpose Prizes that recognize and reward their efforts. Five people receive $100,000 and five receive $50,000. It was something else to meet the prize winners and fellows who are doing amazing work in what might otherwise be their “retirement” years. (View highlights of the events captured on Twitter by searching #purposeprize.)

In fact, I didn’t hear anyone mention the word “retirement” without it being followed by a laugh. As if to say, “Like there is time to relax. There is too much to do.”

Inez Killingsworth won a $100,000 prize for her work heading Empowering and Strengthening Ohio’s People. The organization helps homeowners avoid foreclosure by negotiating with banks for more favorable terms on mortgages. When receiving her award, she commented, “if you know something is wrong and you don’t try to do something about it, why are ya’ here?” (Learn more about Inez and her work here.)

Take a look at the video (below) about Inez from Civic Ventures. (See more videos at Civic Ventures’ site.) I will be sharing stories from winners and other remarkable people I met during the weekend in Philadelphia on my blog in the next few weeks. I hope their stories help inspire you if you are a job seeker to begin to think about how you can use your time and expertise. No matter what your age, there is something out there for you to do that makes good use of your skills.

Maybe you don’t want to start your own non-profit or launch a movement in your community, but there is sure to be some place or organization that needs you. You never know when that something may turn into a paid position.

Learn more about Inez below:

photo courtesy of Civic Ventures.

What business owners and job seekers have in common

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It was exciting to attend Social Media for Start ups, a panel that is part of Social Media Atlanta’s events this week. The experts provided lots of great advice that is relevant for those planning to start businesses, but also for anyone seeking a job.

The panel was moderated by Laura Nolte, Principal – Green Theory. Panelists were:

Adam Rice, Co-Founder – Looxii

Jeremy Porter, Founder – Journalistics

Lance Weatherby, Startup Catalyst – ATDC at Georgia Tech

Nicole Jayne, Social Media Manager – Scoutmob

Sarah DeVries, BlinqMedia

Some takeaways:

Lance made a point about “social proof,” a term that means you show, rather than tell, what you have to offer. Someone who demonstrates a social proof may be applying for a job in social media and do so by using social media in a particularly unique or clever way. The concept of social proof is key for entrepreneurs and start up businesses — they need to show what they can get done. It is also important for job seekers. Always be thinking about how to PROVE that you have the skills, experience and expertise you say you have. Think, “show, don’t tell.”

Adam and Jeremy suggested staying flexible and focusing on what customers want…Another crossover here between a start up and a job seeker. While I advocate job seekers target organizations and opportunities, sometimes, it is necessary to make adjustments in job search strategies. Be prepared to adjust if you want to succeed. For job seekers, the “customer” is the hiring manager. Focus on what he or she wants. Be that person (assuming you are!)

Jeremy suggested that start ups focus on building communities via social media (via blogs and using Twitter)  in the pre-launch phase. He noted that the product could be great, but that the community adds value. Sarah added that word of mouth is key for start ups and suggested relying on friends (and, by extension – social media friends) for buzz. Again — a perfect analogy for job seekers. Build your network before you need it. (Before you are job hunting.) You may be amazing, but it doesn’t matter if no one knows about you. Create a community (or more than one) and rely on it when you are in job search mode.

Jacqui Chew, principal of iFusion Marketing, provided several great insights from the audience. She pointed out that to gain credibility, you need to create your own content and become a go-to resource for your niche. She reminded the audience to provide value by building an audience. Perfect advice for job seekers as well as start ups!

Sarah suggested start ups avoid long, drawn out campaigns because they cause reader fatigue. If you see the same ad on Facebook for a month, you will probably ignore it at some point, right? The same goes for job seekers. Don’t be the “job seeker” who does nothing but look for a job, talk about looking for a job and asking people if they “know anyone.” Instead – remember the previous point – think about how you can provide value and gain credibility. How can you connect for content?

Jeremy commented that start ups need to balance “push ideas” with “pull ideas.” This is absolutely crucial for job seekers as well. You cannot rely on finding a job by sending out resumes and applications. Think about how you can attract people to you. (See “create content.”)

Think about how you can incorporate these ideas into your job search. Can you do anything differently that may achieve a better result?

Tips for effective networking

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Today, I am delighted to share a guest post by Alexandra Levit, courtesy of JobSTART101.org.

JobSTART101 is a first-of-its-kind course that’s free and available to college students and recent graduates nationwide. Alexandra, whose blog is Water Cooler Wisdom, is an author and speaker on business and workplace issues. She is also host of JobSTART101.

The purpose of professional networking is to gain information, increase your visibility in your field, and establish personal connections that will help you advance in your career. No matter how much you love your job, you should always be looking for ways to expand your networks because, ideally, your contacts will follow you from position to position. A strong network allows you to get advice from trusted sources, to keep your professional knowledge current, to find career opportunities, and to support the careers of others. Young professionals who are willing to ask for help will find it easier to navigate within their organization and perform their job duties. Your network can be an excellent source of information when you have a question that you do not want to ask your co-workers or supervisor.

Your network should have lots of variety; individuals from different companies, career levels, and professions can add a range of perspectives. Keeping in touch with your college friends who might be in different companies and industries is a great way to populate your network. Joining a professional association in your field and regularly attending its events is also a smart idea. Finally, investigate your company’s sponsored programs; many organizations provide opportunities for individuals to network within the company. Training events, visits from management, guest speakers, or various types of interest-based events can yield the same type of contacts as an external event.

Know that it takes time to authentically populate your network. But also know that each new contact is a step in the right direction. When I first got into educating people on twenty-something workplace issues, it was startling how helpful I found just one meeting of the Chicago chapter of the American Society for Training and Development. I walked out of the event with business cards for several potential clients and mentors. My network increased after only one event.

Before going to such an event, think about what you hope to get out of attending. Is it general knowledge? Is it a new contact in your field? Or perhaps you are looking for someone to provide input on one of your projects? Understand who the speakers will be at the event and how you might contact them or access their materials in advance of or after the event. Also, learn what other companies and individuals might be at the event. Prepare a few questions that you want to explore, and set a goal to answer them at the event. For example, if you want to do an informational interview—a thirty-minute conversation with an expert on a new development in your field—your goal may be to find someone at the event with that type of expertise. Think about how you would propose a call with that individual, or if this person is local, perhaps a face-to-face meeting might make more sense.

Many experts are willing to speak and share their knowledge, but some may not be as willing. Don’t become discouraged. It may take a few attempts at building your network to make a personal connection. Once you have received an initial response and are moving forward with an interaction—whether it’s in person or via e-mail or phone—be friendly, respectful, and conscious of the contact’s time constraints. Confirm your contact’s available time and the topic you want to cover. If you have the opportunity to sit down with a contact in person, remember to make eye contact, smile, shake hands firmly, and exchange business cards. Ask thoughtful questions and listen carefully to the answers.

If you are meeting over coffee or a meal, when the check comes, simply say to your contact, “I invited you here today, so this is my treat.” This, combined with a handwritten thank-you note, will make the best possible impression and leave the door open for future follow-up—which you should do, of course! If your contact gave you any advice or suggested a course of action, touch base every few months with an update on your progress. And since effective networking always involves give and take, think about ways you can help your contact in return.

JobSTART 101 is a free, online 90 minute course dedicated to helping college students and recent grads master skills critical to workplace success. Check it out at www.jobstart101.org.

photo by Nimages DR